* VTR INSERT 2056A is the scene (29:04-30:27) where Steed and Nicole go down the stairs and through the studio foyer, passing Venus at the lifts. It was recorded in the Teddington Studios Reception Foyer and stairwell.

Thursday 4th October 1962

Camera rehearsal

10.00-12.30

Lunch break

12.30-13.30

Camera rehearsal

13.30-15.30

Tea break, Line-up,
Normal scan & Make-up

15.30-16.15

Dress Run

16.15-17.30

Notes

17.30-18.00

Line-up

18.00-18.30

VTR

18.30-19.30

Running time

The bumpers between the acts are generally 10 seconds from fade in to the "End of Act" bumper to the end of audio before the commercial, a 10 second still without audio, then cut to the next act bumper. This would play with the theme for around 10 seconds. Accordingly, with the episodes being in 3 acts, the running time of the action is approximately a minute less than listed above, minus the opening and closing credits (normally 0'16", with a 2" fade, and anywhere from 0'41" to 1'20", hard cut or 1" fade or mix, respectively).

Murders

Transport

Marque/type

Plate

none

Minutiæ

27:35 - Steed discovers how short-sighted Nicole is when he presents her with yellow roses and she mistakes them for daffodils, then peers myopically at them when he corrects her, and she says, "I can never tell the difference".

27:00 et passim - all the mid shots of Steed in Nicole's dressing room reveal a smudge on the lens of Camera 2, just right of centre, an another on the left edge.

32:37 - Steed's proof he killed Nicole - a bangle enscribed "To Nicole from Pierre", given to Nicole Cauvin by the director of her first film, Pierre Ginsberg. Cecile complains about it being broken and blanches when Steed says it "was a tight fit".

38:27 - the vision mixer switches back to Dragna too early then immediately returns to the shot of Steed.

39:47 - Charlie calls Nicole who is hiding out in Aix-en-Provence, and her number there is 819.

Television standard must have been more permissive in 1962 than we'd expect - Cecile is apparently naked for an entire scene, even if strategically obscured, and Nicole appears in corset and knickers for a minute or two before getting dressed, then wears a tight little bikini on the beach at the end.

Times are from the re-mastered 2009 Optimum Releasing DVD set, any times in brackets are from the previously released DVD sets which had frames with interference or banding deleted, resulting in shorter running times.

The Songs

Venus Smith rehearses the chorus of "I May be Wrong" [6:26 (6:20), 0:30 long] with Dave (with some of the words adapted)

Venus sings "An Occasional Man" [41:31 (40:32), 1:25 long] accompanied by the Dave Lee Trio.
When she starts "An Occasional Man" the racks supervisor doesn't switch the audio input in time so we don't hear the first three words.

Binaggio orders Dave to "play something, something loud" [10:41-12:02] while he and Dragna talk to Steed.

Later, the trio play an extended original number [35:17 (34:20), 1:54 long] without Venus for the benefit of the harbour officer.
IMDB lists this as the Herbert Kretzmer/Dave Lee composition "Goodness Gracious Me" but it doesn't sound like it to me - maybe it's just because it doesn't have Peter Sellers doing that awful Indian accent.
Edwin Richfield looks pained when they keep on playing at the 36:55 (35:55) mark - he'd seen his cue and was about to speak to the harbour master, but the band kicks in the coda and plays for another 20 seconds.

Venus later tearfully sings the refrain of "Sing for your Supper" [48:02 (47:03), 0:52 long], accompanying herself on piano, while Siegel and Dragna menace Steed with pistols. She is cut off when Steed attacks Siegel.
Julie Stevens revealed that her fear in this scene is real - but mostly because she didn't think she'd be able to play the piano well enough!

When I go swimming,
I am always dressed in style
Cause I go swimming
wearing just a great big smile

Chorus:
My little island,
was made just? for pleasure
and in the cool of evening it's a treasure
And when the hour gets later,
what it greater than
An occasional man!

If you're on shore-leave
and your face is kind-a cute
Perhaps, by your leave,
I can be your passionfruit.

My little island, is such a beauty,
You may forget to heed
the call of duty
But if you give the slip,
To your ship,
Miss your trip,
Take a dip and blame
an occasional dame!

From the soundtrack to "The Girl Rush"

Sing for your Supper
Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, 1938

Verse:
Hawks and crows do lots of things,
but the canary only sings.
She is a courtesan on wings-
So I've heard.
Eagles and storks are twice as strong.
All the canary knows is song.
But the canary gets along-
Gilded bird!

Sing for your luncheon
And you'll get dinner
Dine with wine of choice
If romance is in your voice

I heard from a wise canary
trilling makes a fellow willing
So, little swallow, swallow now
Now is the time to -
Sing for your supper
And you'll get breakfast
Songbirds are not dumb
They don't buy a crumb
Of bread, It's said.
So sing, just sing
and you'll be fed
La lala la la lala..
[Steed attacks Siegel]

Venus' version:
...
All of my clothes are unsightly,
All of my hats are a crime,
If dear in you I've picked rightly,
It's for the very first time.

You came a-long, say,
I think you're won-der-ful,
I think you're grand but
I may be wrong!Yeah.

Original lyrics:
I may be wrong, but,
I think you're won-der-ful!
I may be wrong, but,
I think you're swell!
I like your style, say,
I think you're mar-vell-ous,
I'm always wrong
So how can I tell?

Chorus:
All of my shirts are unsightly,
All of my ties are a crime,
If dear in you I've picked rightly,
It's the very first time!
You came along, say,
I think you're wonderful!
I think you're grand, but,
I may be wrong!

I may be wrong, but,
I think you're swell!
I'm always wrong
So how can I tell?